BRUSSELS bureaucrats are forcing Britain to cough up a staggering £20BILLION before the country unshackles itself from the beleaguered bloc, it has emerged.

The European Union has threatened to hold the UK to ransom if it fails to pay the bill, in a scathing attack on democracy following Britain’s momentous Brexit vote.

An EU source told a German newspaper: “A deal with Britain is inconceivable if the British do not settle these liabilities.”

EU Commission lawyers have warned Theresa May’s Government a failure to pay up would equal a debt default, according to reports.

The now 27-member bloc has been pushing through a mountain of bills unpaid for years, which now amounts to more than €200billion (£170billion) and it is alleged that the British share is around €25 billion euros (£20billion).

The crumbling Brussels club appears to be desperately trying to put blocks in the way of a British exit following the Leave vote on June 23.

EU big cheese Jean-Claude Juncker has already warned Britain will not gain access to the single market if it refuses to accept freedom of movement rules.

And in a further move to stop Britain from fully leaving the bloc, Brussels chiefs say they could offer the UK temporary curbs on immigration in return for access to the single market.